Ranger Rowdy Report - June 14, 2008

Well, here's how the Rangers shape up as we hit the break: Four games over .500 at 50-46. Seven and a half games out of first place and one and a half out of second.

How many outside of us die-hards thought that was possible?

It's like Journey said: Don't stop believing, hold on to that feeling.

They got to this point after taking two of three from the White Sox at home, with all three games representing how this season has gone. They'll pile up the runs on you, and hopefully their starting pitcher can keep his act together. At least, Luis Mendoza did in the first game, going six and allowing only one in the 7-2 win, making up for his debacle against the Angels. It's like I keep saying, you have to keep giving them the chance.

And even if they do get bombed, they're never out of it. Look at Saturday. Down 9-4 in the ninth, they still score three more and have the tying run at the plate in Hamilton before he grounds out to end the game. They respond to that by pounding out 12 runs on Sunday, including five in their last two at-bats, then they watch CJ bend but not break again, by giving up three and striking out the last two batters with the go-ahead runs on base.

Sorry purists; this team is just fun to watch, and that's the bottom line.

Now, four of our guys are headed to Yankee Stadium for the All-Star Game in Hamilton, Bradley, Young and Kinsler. Hamilton will be in the Home Run Derby. Kinsler may need this game more than anything else. If anything could disrupt him enough to end the hitting streak (25 games and counting), it would be three days off.

Everyone else, especially those pitchers, could use the rest time. Because there's a murderous road trip coming up to start Part Two.